The Embraced: Scribal Love: Interview of Constance Wallace, Author of the 'Legends of Green Isle- The Forgotten Spell'

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Interview of Constance Wallace, Author of the 'Legends of Green Isle- The Forgotten Spell'

Scribal Love Welcomes Constance Wallace!

Constance Wallace is an author of fantasy. Her newest work ‘Legends of Green Isle – The Forgotten Spell’ is available from Wehunt Enterprises, Inc as an ebook and will be offered on Barnes & Noble, Sony, Kobo, Amazon, Apple, and Diesel sites.

What inspired you to write this book?

I love making people happy with stories and being a mom of three, I wanted to write something for my kids. Having a vivid imagination already, spending the last seven years developing this story line was fun, especially creating the world of Green Isle and the characters in it. I wanted to write an epic adventure that involved something deeper. I guess you could say Tolkien and Terry Brooks and their books were my personal inspirations.

Do you have a specific writing style?

I know I will never be able to write off an outline because I write from my heart. Hearing the characters in my head, the story develops with them in the lead and my fingers just follow.

What is the name of your latest book? And how did you come up with the title?

Legends of Green Isle – The Forgotten Spell is the first of 6 books in the series. Everyone dreams of becoming a legend but few really understand that sometimes in the simplest things we do for others we are a legend. The title speaks of one thing, but the story shows another. The Forgotten Spell, of course, is the first in this series which spans three generations of one family.

What is Legends of Green Isle – The Forgotten Spell about?

The story begins in 1942 when the main character, 16 year old Matt Kelly faces moving from his hometown Chicago to the south when his father is transferred to a new job managing a wartime airplane manufacturing facility. He finds himself a new resident of a sinister three hundred year old Scottish manor that everyone believes is haunted and when he hears disembodied voices coming from the overgrown hedge maze behind the house the first day they arrive it only adds to the mystery when the housekeeper informs his parents the previous tenants’ twin children disappeared without a trace. Matt’s adventure truly begins when his younger brother and two other children from town vanish also.

Following a small dragon and fairy through a hidden mirror which is the portal to another world in a parallel dimension, Matt and his new friends from the local town set off to rescue the children who were taken. Told their coming was prophesied by a wizard named Keltrain over three thousand years ago, they begin their quest before the Fairy Queen in this hidden world. The Queen sends them on a quest to locate a magic sword which is the only weapon able to conquer Uthal, an ancient Warlock who wants to use the kidnapped children in a forgotten spell which could doom both this magical world and Earth. Given an encrypted map by the Fairy Queen that only Keltrain can unlock, the group embarks on a dangerous journey to find the wizard and sword, hoping to reach Uthal’s lair before he gathers all the ingredients needed to fuel the spell, and they are too late to help the others. This wonderful adventure doesn’t end until the sixth book, and their grandchildren must complete the circle saving Earth and this hidden world of magic.

What books have most influenced your life most?

Tolkien’s “The Hobbit”, “The Lord of The Rings” series, Terry Brooks’ “Elfstones of Shannara” and Anne McCaffrey’s “Dragon Riders of Pern” Series.

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

I would have to say Tolkien. He had much deeper meanings within his books. He wrote at a time when the Great War introduced new evils into the world (i.e. weaponry) and used his books to write against this.

What books are you reading now?

Because I am currently attending college (yes you can return in your forties) attempting my further education in history, my reading material has switched to history books. But I am anxious to delve back into some Terry Brooks.

What are your current projects?

Book Two, The Mirror Sliver is in process at the moment, and a collection of 1950s spoof Twilight Zone short stories which center on my hometown Hiawassee, Georgia and some characters I’ve created to help spin some good old fashion creepiness.

Do you see writing as a career?

I could sit and write everyday but I love History too, and hope to achieve my doctorate in history, specializing in Ancient religions and Women in history.

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

No. It has taken me awhile to plan what meanings lay beneath the main story line. Hopefully those who read it will enjoy it.

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

I started writing in the 10th grade during my trig class. It was when Battlestar Galatica first came out and my friend and I wanted to write a sci-fi story.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Not being able to write more.

Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

It’s funny, but one particular event in Book One made me realize, that not all heroes are ones who stand in the foreground, sometimes the heroes that matter most are the ones who calmly wait until just the right time, and stand in the background watching and caring. My characters are great teachers of what’s inside me.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

As my father said “write, write, write” and let what in your heart be art in words.

Constance, thank you for dropping by!

You're welcome, Clare.